Seed-drill valve



"'0. 625,596. Patented May 23, I899.

w. PAYNE.

SEED DRILL VALVE.

(Application filed Jan. 27, 1899.)

. m n xawcwhd NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM PAYNE, OF LAWRENCE, MICHIGAN.

SEED-DRILL VALVE.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 625,596, dated May' 23,1895 Application filed January 27, 1899. Serial No- 7Q3,585. (No model.)I

gan, have invented certain new and useful Im-- provements in Seed-DrillValves; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to regulating-valves or cut-offs for the spoutsof grain or seed drills.

The object sought to be accomplished is to provide an improved valve orcut-off of simple and inexpensive construction which will beself-locking, so as to remain in the position where adjusted, and whichcan be easily ma nipulated.

Having the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consistsof certain improved features and novel combinations of parts set forthin detail hereinafter and recited in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a transverse section of lowerportion of the hopper of a grain or seed drill, illustrating myinvention. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of sliding valve or cut-off. Fig. 3is a bottom view of portion of hopper; and Fig. 4 is a longitudinalsection on line 4 4, Fig. 1.

A section of the bottom of the grain or seed hopper (shown at 1) isprovided with the usual feed-opening 2, through which the grain or seedpasses into the spout. The under side of the bottom is cut out orrecessed at 3 to a width somewhat greater than that of opening 2, and onthe other side of the opening there are two grooves or channels 4 and 5,which run into a cross-channel 6. Between and parallel with channels 4and 5 isa groove or recess 7, whose outer end runs into crosschannel 6,while its inner end is blind. This groove narrows gradually andregularly in width from its outer open-end, where it is broadest, to itsinner blind end,where it is narrowest. The top wall of the groove slantsor inclines upwardly from its broad outer end to its blind end. The openend of the grooveis countersunk, as at 8. A metal wear-strip 9 liesagainst and covers the top walls of the groove and countersink, and inthe latter the inclined part 10 is provided. This endof the strip isbent over the edge of the hopper-bot tom and secured by a fasteningdevice 11. The remaining end of the strip is fitted into undercuts 12 inthe side walls of the grooves.

The numeral 13 designates a rectangular frame of stout wire which is ofsuch width that portions of its side pieces are adapted to slide freelyand easily in the grooves 4and 5. The valve proper is a piece of sheetmetal 14 of sufficient size to be adapted to cover the opening 2, whichhas its edges bent over the side pieces and one end of the frame 13, asshown at 15. At the other end of the frame is a similar metallic piece16, which, however,

is of such length that its edge 17, when received in cross-groove 6 asfar as possible, positions the valve justbeyond the opening 2, so thatit is completely uncovered, and so that said piece 16 acts as a gagewhen the valve is opened.

The numeral 18 represents atapering leafspring which has its broad endsecured to the gage 16 intermediate the side rods of the frame and itsremaining portion free to bear against and slide on the wear-strip 9,which it is adaptedto do as it is bent at such an angle that it willconstantly press against said strip, and when the valve is pulledcompletely over the opening 2 the tip of the spring will snap into thecountersunk portion of the groove.

A cover-plate 19 is secured to the hopperbottom and holds the differentparts of the valve mechanism in proper position. The opening 20 in theplate registers with the opening 2.

The valve mechanism I have described is of course duplicated for eachspout in the machine, so that the feed through any given spout can beregulated as desired independently of any other spout.

Operation: Assuming that the valve is closed, it can be opened bypressing the tip of the spring out of the countersink and into the maingroove and pushing in the frame. The pressure of the spring will lockthe valve wherever it is allowed to remain and the vibration or jarringof the machine will not disturb the adjustment. The feed of the seed orgrain can therefore be regulated as found desirable. When the valve iscompletely closed, the reception of the tip of the spring in thecountersink renders opening impossible until the spring is pressed bacl;by hand. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a bottom having a feed-' opening, of a valve adapted toclose said opening, and a spring connected to the valve and bearingagainst the bottom, said spring being adapted to automatically lock thevalve Where positioned.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination With a bottomhaving a feedopening, of a valve adapted to close the opening, and aleaf-spring connected to the valve and having a free portion adapted tobear against the bottom and lock the valve where positioned.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a bottomhaving a feedopening and provided with a locking-recess,

of a valve adapted to close said opening, and a leaf-spring secured tothe valve and having a free portion adapted to bear against the bot* tomand lock the valve in an open or partially open position and to enterthe locking-recess when the valve is closed.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a bottomhaving a feedopening, of a slidable frame, a valve secured to the frameand adapted to close the opening, and a gage on the frame adapted tocoact with the bottom and limit the opening of the valve.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a bottomhaving a feedopening, of a slidable frame a valve secured tothe frameand adapted to close the opening, a gage on the frame, and stop deviceson the bottom, one of which is designed to engage the valve when closedand the other to engage the gage when the valve is open.

6. In a device of the class described, .the combination with a bottomhaving a feed opening, and recessed or cut away around said opening andone side thereof and provided with parallel grooves on the other sideand a cross-groove connecting them, of a frame having portions adaptedto lide ill th Parallel grooves, a valve secured to one part of theframe and a gage secured to the other end of said frame, said valvebeing adapted to slide in the recessed portion and the gage to bereceived in the cross-groove,whereby the movement of the valve and frameis limited in both directions.

7. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a bottom having a feedopening, and a groove having aninclined wall, of a slide-valve for said opening, and a leafspring,secured to the valve,which has its free portion slidable in the grooveand bearing against the inclined wall whereby automatic locking of thevalve is had.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a bottomhaving a feed= opening and a groove having an inclined wall providedwith a countersink at one portion, of a slide-valve for the opening anda leafspring secured to the valve and having a free portion adapted topress against the inclined Wall and to fit into the countersink herealined therewith,whereby automatic locking of the valve is had.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with a bottomhaving a feedopening and provided with a groove having an inclined topwall and undercut side walls, and also provided with a countersink atone end, of a slide-valve for the opening, a wearstrip fitted againstthe top Wall of the groove and into the undercuts and also fitted intothe countersink and secured to the bottom, and a bent leaf-springsecured to the valve and having a free portion bearing against andslidable on the wear strip and adapted for reception in thecountersink,whereby automatic locking of the valve is had.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM PAYNE.

Witnesses:

E. G. KLOCK, CARRIE BAUGHMAN.

